TJ9MD Cameroon 20 Meter SSB / Steve AG4W DX Operator / NG7M Max calling from Utah

[@JayN4GO]

Thanks for the spot on Cw. Was able to hone in quickly

[@ng7m-ham-shack]

Hi Jay! That was quick on the post here. Glad the spot helped. A lot of fun to work someone you know on the other end. Steve AG4W does a great job on SSB and he is a machine. He will stick with it and just keep going on any long schedule. I got to know Steve really well in Djibouti where we roomed together in one of the bungalows. In fact, Steve is the reason I jumped in and joined the Swains Island team W8S. Steve had some things come up and couldn't make it to Swains. Steve and Adrian KO8SCO must have been desperate, and they reached out to see if I could go :) And obviously I pulled the trigger. Max NG7M

[@JayN4GO]

@@ng7m-ham-shack what a great experience that must’ve been. I’ve always wanted to be on the rxing end of a dxpedition. Maybe as I improve and my kiddos get a bit older. I think for the most part you have to be financially sound as well. Unless someone has to cancel out 😆 you did a great job I’m sure!

[@johnratcliffe6438]

I can barely hear him.

[@ng7m-ham-shack]

Yes, exactly. They are 7700 miles from Utah. This is why I don't enhance the audio. I want these recordings to be realistic and true to form for those that listen. The more you practice the better you get. I would suggest putting on headphones and listen again. Turn up the volume but not to the point of it being uncomfortable. This is a real audio level even if I have the AF turned up on the receiver. This is the beauty of HF and the distances and hops off the ionosphere and earth multiple times. I still find it magic after all these years. I too could barely hear Steve AG4W operating from the DX side as TJ9MD. This is with 3 elements pointed at 65 degrees from Utah at 70 ft. It is magic! :) An end fed wire 25 feet of the ground would be useless in this case. 100 watts with an end fed wire 25 feet off the ground would be useless. It's all about a gain based beam and more than 100 watts to make this SSB contact happen. Keep listening and work on your antenna setup above all else. It's all about the antenna and not a fancy transceiver at the end of the day. Get that antenna 1/2 wave above the ground and magical things will happen! Max NG7M